Conservatives are suspicious of John McCain and evangelicals have problems with Mitt Romney's Mormon religion. Rudi Giuliani leads Republican polls. Has the base of the party softened on social issues, or is that a temporary phenomenon? Plus, Democrat John Edwards says he'll continue his presidential campaign despite his wife's continuing battle with cancer and, on Reporter's Notebook, we talk with New Mexico's Democratic Governor Bill Richardson about his race for presidency.

FROM THIS EPISODE

Conservatives are suspicious of John McCain and evangelicals have
problems with Mitt Romney's Mormon religion. Rudi Giuliani leads
Republican polls. Has the base of the party softened on social issues,
or is that a temporary phenomenon? Plus, Democrat John Edwards says
he'll continue his presidential campaign despite his wife's continuing
battle with cancer and, on Reporter's Notebook, we talk with New
Mexico's Democratic Governor Bill Richardson about his race for
presidency.

In Chapel Hill, North Carolina today, Elizabeth Edwards announced the return of cancer, saying it's incurable but treatable. Former Senator John Edwards said that means his presidential campaign can continue. A breast cancer survivor who will require bone cancer treatment for the rest of her life, Mrs. Edwards says she's "ready" to go back on the campaign trail. Also today, the Senate Judiciary Committee has authorized subpoenas for White House aides after some heavy debate. Ron Brownstein is a political columnist for the Los Angeles Times.

Republican presidential politics are in a state of confusion. The party base is conservative on economics, national security and social issues, but the most socially liberal of three leading contenders is leading in party polls: pro-choice, three-times-married, Rudi Giuliani has the edge at the moment over John McCain and Mitt Romney. Conservative Republicans have booed McCain and evangelicals are openly skeptical of Romney's Mormon religion. Will the party base give up its "litmus test" on social issues to get a hawk on national security? Are both moderates and conservatives looking for new faces? We hear from journalists, politicians and evangelicals.

Bill Richardson has an extraordinary resume. ongressman; Secretary of Energy; Ambassador to the UN; now, Governor of New Mexico. Unofficially, he's been a successful negotiator in several international emergencies, including one that brought him face to face with Saddam Hussein. His English name came from his father, his mother's Hispanic, and he's on tour for his book called, Between Worlds. He's also a Democratic candidate for President.